If you want to see a bit more of Europe’s west coast, you may decide to head north of the Algarve to Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. But once you’ve flown into Faro, how do you make the journey north? You’re in luck: there are lots of options for making this journey.
Drive
One way to get from Faro to Lisbon is to drive. The journey takes around two and a half hours and follows the IP1 and IP7 roads, including a segment of the journey over the sea on the Ponte 25 de Abril. The journey covers around 280km, and follows a relatively pleasant route.
Fly
It is possible to take a domestic flight from Faro to Lisbon (and vice versa), but these can be relatively expensive, and although the flight only takes around 45 minutes, once you have factored in check-in times and time in security in Lisbon, this isn’t a much quicker option than taking a train or driving. Tickets tend to cost from €160 one way.
Bus
You may choose to take a bus to Lisbon. This should take around four hours, though it can vary slightly depending on the time of day you travel, and a one way ticket costs approximately €20. These buses tend to be fairly comfortable, but might get a little hot, so be sure to stock up on water before the journey.
Train
The most common way to get to Lisbon from Faro is by train. There are two types of train you may wish to take: the fast train – Alfa Pendular – which takes around three hours, or the slower train, the Intercidade, which takes around 3 hours 45 and costs roughly €25. Train tickets can be booked in advance or on the day of travel, but you might prefer to book the tickets beforehand so you don’t need to struggle on the day if your Portuguese is poor.
The route from Faro to Lisbon is relatively popular, so there is a fair amount of flexibility in the timings. Be aware that while the trains are the most popular way to get from one city to the other, the fastest mode of transport is driving, and it’s a straightforward route. Many Portuguese car hire companies are beginning to operate a full-to-empty tank policy, so if you want to make sure you use all of the petrol you’ve paid for and get your money’s worth, driving to Lisbon could be a good solution.
